We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly. We support the following browsers:
Windows:Internet Explorer,
Mozilla Firefox,
Google Chrome.
Mac:Safari.

This is a huge Korean spa, in suburban Virginia; it's authentic in every way. Most guests are ethnic Koreans, but there are enough Westerners that I didn't feel that I stuck out, particularly. When you enter, you pay your entrance fee and get a shirt and shorts for the dry areas, and key to your first of two lockers, into which you place your shoes. Then you proceed to the "wet area" for your gender, and find your second locker, which opens with your key. You place all your clothing and what-have-you in this locker and, stark naked, head for the pools. Before you enter the water you take a shower--you'll see the Koreans especially scrubbing themselves very thoroughly before going in, as one does in a Korean bathhouse in Korea. There's a huge warm "bade pool", bubbling away, with waterfalls and jets; on the side are a couple of hotter pools, a children's pool, and cold pool, and there are also two saunas, one steamy and the other dry. On the side are the massage and body scrub tables; you sign up for these treatments in the locker room. I did the body scrub, which was fantastic. When you are feeling relaxed and/or hungry, you can dry off with one of their little towels and go back to your locker, put on your shirt/shorts spa-wear, and head to the "poultice rooms". These are sort of like saunas but every one is different--an amethyst room, a charcoal room, a ice room (refreshing!), a red clay room, the red clay ball room (terrific--it's filled with inches of marble sized red clay balls, on which you lie and relax as on a warm beach), and some others. There's also a central relaxation area where you can lie on a mat, chat, watch the huge TVs, and on one end, the juice/snack bar with easy chairs. There's a bunch of magazines to read in the bins on the walls too. This is also where the little restaurant is located--the food is authentic and terrific, and very well priced too. My favorite "soondooboo", or spicy tofu soup, was 100% as I had it in Korea, and fantastic hot bibimbap (rice bowl with vegetables) was great too. Spend several hours, get a massage, and you'll come out refreshed and renewed, rather like being on vacation in another world for awhile. I recommend it highly! Just remember, some things might be a cultural shock--just go with it, is my advice.

Visited February 2013

Was this review helpful?Yes4

Problem with this review?

Ask GlobtrotterMom about Spa World

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

this is a wonderful place to relax; one of the reviewers noticed mostly Koreans and Europeans; if Americans are bothered that they have to be naked, don't go, and if you go, don't complain about it, what's wrong about being naked? and if you proceed to the Pultice room, yes, you will find people relaxing in their orange outfits on mats, talking softly, watching TV or reading, walking in and out of the various saunas; so, why does a (former) visitor complain about it? just use your own judgement and don't always look for "instructions", find out yourself; and if you go to the clay room, watch out for the pebbles, you might fall, don't look for "watch your step" you are on your own: and this is just fine! be a person with common sense!I love this place!

Visited January 2013

Was this review helpful?Yes1

Problem with this review?

Ask Sonnenhang54 about Spa World

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

Kibocamp

Falls Church, Virginia

Senior Reviewer

9 reviews

Reviews in 7 cities

9 helpful votes

“Will Definitely Go Back--even without a Groupon”

Reviewed January 27, 2013

I had a great first experience at Spa World. We arrived early before the crowds and started with an amazing reflexology foot massage. The only thing that could have made that better would be having music in the room and not the annoying Korean soap opera that was on the TV. From there we experienced all the dry saunas in the poulice room. They were all hot and detoxing and offered a nice break from the cool outdoors of the past few days. From there we did an hour in the bade pool in preparation for a 30 minute body scrub. The nudity part was no big deal after the initial first minute of being self-conscious. The body scrub was rough but I loved it and ending with a nice full body massage made me want to come back for the hour long one with the facial. After that it was back to the bade pool and the poulice room for about another hour. Great place as long as you aren't expecting doting staff. They were perfectly nice but aren't going for any customer service awards. And to the reviewer that didn't like the way they treated her 16 mo. old--I say, leave the kids at home. It's an adult oriented spa not a play ground or day care center (though I think you can pay for babysitting).

Visited January 2013

Was this review helpful?Yes4

Problem with this review?

Ask Kibocamp about Spa World

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

The staff at the front desk a rude and not helpful. I had a problem and they were very argumentative and refused to help. When I asked for manger they asked me to wait. After 5 minutes and i asked where is the manager, she said "oh, the manager is busy now". Too bad this is the only baths in town, otherwise I would not go there. As foir the facility it self, its ok but dont go on weekend as they admit too many people and you will feel like a sardine in the saunas and pools.

Visited January 2013

Was this review helpful?Yes6

Problem with this review?

Ask MagyarHerceg about Spa World

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

andria35

1 review

5 helpful votes

“An amazing, affordable spa, I'M HOOKED!”

Reviewed January 20, 2013

PLEASE READ: I don't really write reviews, but this one had to be done. I've never heard of this place until my friend invited me. It's about 30 min outside of DC right off 66. When I was looking at the pictures before hand I thought very nice, but for the price I thought the pictures were docked up to make the place look better than it really did. Well, after my 45 min ride there I parked in a strip mall, mainly full with Asian branded stores, the grocery store there is H-mart. Anyway, once inside, I was AMAZED! the place looks just like the pictures, clean, very clean. So, once you pay your 35.00 for basic service, just to go to the bade pool & the 7 polutice rooms, they give you an electronic key which serves as your locker key and payment key for additional services. The bade pool is fully nude, I was nervous but u get used to it fast. Next time I'm getting the body scrub. The restaurant, nothing is priced over 15.00 and the food it amazing! I easily spent 6 hours in there. There is one thing, if you go on the weekend get there early because around 2pm it starts getting supper crowded. Any questions, just ask, I'll try to answer all.

Was this review helpful?Yes5

Problem with this review?

Ask andria35 about Spa World

This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.

* TripAdvisor LLC is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site... (more)

We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly. We support the following browsers:
Windows:Internet Explorer,
Mozilla Firefox,
Google Chrome.
Mac:Safari.

TripAdvisor LLC is not responsible for content on external web sites. Taxes, fees not included for deals content.